As a (former) Californian, I never understood the appeal. It tastes like fast food to me. And that's not that I think it's bad food. Some people have come to consider fast food to be bad food, ergo there's never a good excuse to eat at a McDonalds, but take the same fare, slap a psalm on the bottom of the package, and call it In N Out and suddenly it's divine.

I was going to say this isn't the VR, but then I saw you were talking about burgers, and not hot dogs, and I was all like 'ohhh...' Plus, I mean, this is Optimism talking, of course she's tried in and out...

*ahem*

Anyway, I believe I've seen them slated here in the Lounge so I understand the reticence. Do they do anything different? Also ketchup is a normal (I think) addition to a burger, same as a hotdog. You like some sauce from on your meat right?

Eh, they just have a verse on the bottom of the cup. As far as I know they don't go advocating shit policies, like Chick-fil-a. Meanwhile, they also treat their employees really well and all the food is local and fresh. Fine by me.

If I ever make it out to the Left Coast, I'll have to try In-and-Out. I always hear such good things about it.

We've got no shortage of great burger places here (my personal favorite is Bub's, but you can't go for the "Big Ugly" that gets all the press--it's too big and gets dried out; their half-pound "Not So Ugly" elk burger is crazypants good, though), but I always like to try new burgers.

alai wrote:

Doomlord_uk wrote:

Quote:

slap a psalm on the bottom of the package

wut? are they like chick-fil-a or something?

Eh, they just have a verse on the bottom of the cup. As far as I know they don't go advocating shit policies, like Chick-fil-a. Meanwhile, they also treat their employees really well and all the food is local and fresh. Fine by me.

I LOVE this recipe and I think it is simply because when I make burgers at home (and everyone else I know is usually the same way), I make big, thick burgers. Which are great. As are most pubs/taverns/restaurants, anything non-fast food. But very, very different from fast-food style, thin burgers. In-n-Out is great because it is that style of burger, but with high-quality, fresh meat. Well, that is actually super simple to emulate at home.

Having eaten burgers on the west and east coasts, I have to say I prefer Five Guys to In and Out.

Having eaten Five Guys for 7 years while I lived in DC... blech. I'm just over them. Lots of toppings, but the topping quality is sub-par. The burgers are too big, too greasy. I'd still choose them over most fast-food, and they're fantastic when drunk.

/their fries are fantastic though, as is the bacon hot dog.//not fast-food, really. But more Chiptole-style 'fast casual', Super Duper in SF and Umami throughout California are f'ing fantastic and seem to be expanding slowly.

They are well known for their quality ingredients. I've liked the taste, but it's been so long that I forget why. Maybe it was the fries, or that it was the first fast food place I've been too where they 1/2 wrapped the burgers for eating.

It's also worth noting that ownership and direction of the company is fairly tight, kept within one family. They expand very slowly.

Having eaten burgers on the west and east coasts, I have to say I prefer Five Guys to In and Out.

Having eaten Five Guys for 7 years while I lived in DC... blech. I'm just over them. Lots of toppings, but the topping quality is sub-par. The burgers are too big, too greasy. I'd still choose them over most fast-food, and they're fantastic when drunk.

/their fries are fantastic though, as is the bacon hot dog.//not fast-food, really. But more Chiptole-style 'fast casual', Super Duper in SF and Umami throughout California are f'ing fantastic and seem to be expanding slowly.

That's kind of the thing, if I want a fast food burger, Five Guys is the best I've had.

One last thing that people tend to forgot or overlook about In-N-Out... it's bloody cheap. Price-wise it really is competitive with McDonalds and Burger King (i.e., cheaper than a place like Five Guys) and they usually do have drive-thru. In other words, it really is traditional fast food. But it tastes good.

It's also worth noting that ownership and direction of the company is fairly tight, kept within one family. They expand very slowly.

Yup, I believe they are still 100% family owned and they have a strict rule about having each restaurant be within 100 miles of a distribution center. That's how they enforce the freshness of their ingredients. They just built a center near Dallas and have since started building joints in the North Austin suburbs (just within the 100 mile limit).

I am on the road, so fast food was actually the plan. I have had plenty of Five Guys, and I would be indifferent between Five Guys and In-and-Out. Five Guys does have much better fries, IMO, but like I said, I say solid chain/fast foodish burger. Tasted good, fresh ingredients, I only feel slightly like dying hour an hour or so later. Probably should have split my double double with my husband and only eaten half of one. Only ate a few fries cause they weren't that good and they are empty calories.

Are there any In-N-Outs that don't have drive-thru? It's kind of their thing. There are a few older locations that don't have any indoor tables, only drive-thru window(s) and a walk-up window.

Another interesting fact: nearly all of the In-N-Out restaurants, at least the ones built since the mid-1990s, have exactly identical floorplans. I haven't heard the history behind it, but I suppose they did some studies to find a layout that worked well, and stuck with it. It really adds to the consistency factor many people are going for in fast food. The only real downside is that some locations could really use larger bathrooms, like the one in Kettleman City that's almost exactly halfway on the SF<->LA corridor.

Are there any In-N-Outs that don't have drive-thru? It's kind of their thing. There are a few older locations that don't have any indoor tables, only drive-thru window(s) and a walk-up window.

Another interesting fact: nearly all of the In-N-Out restaurants, at least the ones built since the mid-1990s, have exactly identical floorplans. I haven't heard the history behind it, but I suppose they did some studies to find a layout that worked well, and stuck with it. It really adds to the consistency factor many people are going for in fast food. The only real downside is that some locations could really use larger bathrooms, like the one in Kettleman City that's almost exactly halfway on the SF<->LA corridor.

Pretty sure they pretty much all do... only one I can think of is also the only one close to me: the sole SF location at Fisherman's Wharf. And it is one of the few without the identical floorplans you mention.

You know what drives me nuts? WHY DON'T THEY HAVE ONE AT ATT PARK?!?! (fine. the Dodgers should get one too)

Are there any In-N-Outs that don't have drive-thru? It's kind of their thing. There are a few older locations that don't have any indoor tables, only drive-thru window(s) and a walk-up window.

Another interesting fact: nearly all of the In-N-Out restaurants, at least the ones built since the mid-1990s, have exactly identical floorplans. I haven't heard the history behind it, but I suppose they did some studies to find a layout that worked well, and stuck with it. It really adds to the consistency factor many people are going for in fast food. The only real downside is that some locations could really use larger bathrooms, like the one in Kettleman City that's almost exactly halfway on the SF<->LA corridor.

Pretty sure they pretty much all do... only one I can think of is also the only one close to me: the sole SF location at Fisherman's Wharf. And it is one of the few without the identical floorplans you mention.

You know what drives me nuts? WHY DON'T THEY HAVE ONE AT ATT PARK?!?! (fine. the Dodgers should get one too)

There's an In-N-Out between Los Angeles and Las Vegas that has a stretched out floor plan. It's a much larger floor plan and has a larger bathroom.

I love you. Whole grilled onion is my #1 favorite 'secret' item there. So tasty and something most people don't know about. I personally don't usually do animal style, but I will do mustard-grilled patties.

I don't know why people on the East Coast always compare InO to Five Guys. They are not in the same market. Five Guys is nearly twice the price and lacks a drive through every place I've ever been (and their fries are fucking awful).

Five Guys is fast-casual, like Smashburger (which is better and serves beer). InO is a drive through. People not from the West Coast that have heard accolades tend to feel underwhelmed because they are expecting something more than a really high quality fast food product, due to years of anticipation and/or skepticism.

But it's still just a fast food burger. Keep that in mind, and your expectations will likely be exceeded.

I don't know why people on the East Coast always compare InO to Five Guys. They are not in the same market. Five Guys is nearly twice the price and lacks a drive through every place I've ever been (and their fries are fucking awful).

Five Guys is fast-casual, like Smashburger (which is better and serves beer). InO is a drive through. People not from the West Coast that have heard accolades tend to feel underwhelmed because they are expecting something more than a really high quality fast food product, due to years of anticipation and/or skepticism.

But it's still just a fast food burger. Keep that in mind, and your expectations will likely be exceeded.

yeah. And that's my problem with Five Guys. When compared to things it SHOULD be compared to, it starts falling down. Shake Shack, Super Duper, those sorts of places are much better than Five Guys.

/Apparently I'm the only person who LOVES the fries at both In-N-Out and Fives Guys

edit: the first Five Guys I went to served beer (on Wisconsin Ave towards Georgetown, I think). It was great. Then it stopped. Which sucks.

As a (former) Californian, I never understood the appeal. It tastes like fast food to me. And that's not that I think it's bad food. Some people have come to consider fast food to be bad food, ergo there's never a good excuse to eat at a McDonalds, but take the same fare, slap a psalm on the bottom of the package, and call it In N Out and suddenly it's divine.

As a (former) Californian, I never understood the appeal. It tastes like fast food to me. And that's not that I think it's bad food. Some people have come to consider fast food to be bad food, ergo there's never a good excuse to eat at a McDonalds, but take the same fare, slap a psalm on the bottom of the package, and call it In N Out and suddenly it's divine.

As a (former) Californian, I never understood the appeal. It tastes like fast food to me. And that's not that I think it's bad food. Some people have come to consider fast food to be bad food, ergo there's never a good excuse to eat at a McDonalds, but take the same fare, slap a psalm on the bottom of the package, and call it In N Out and suddenly it's divine.

One last thing that people tend to forgot or overlook about In-N-Out... it's bloody cheap. Price-wise it really is competitive with McDonalds and Burger King (i.e., cheaper than a place like Five Guys) and they usually do have drive-thru. In other words, it really is traditional fast food. But it tastes good.

It isn't really any cheaper than Five Guys, it's just that at Five Guys you get twice the burger and twice the fries for roughly double the price. That's why if you're eating there alone and have a normal person metabolism, you order the Little Cheeseburger (or whatever) instead of the regular one.

One last thing that people tend to forgot or overlook about In-N-Out... it's bloody cheap. Price-wise it really is competitive with McDonalds and Burger King (i.e., cheaper than a place like Five Guys) and they usually do have drive-thru. In other words, it really is traditional fast food. But it tastes good.

It isn't really any cheaper than Five Guys, it's just that at Five Guys you get twice the burger and twice the fries for roughly double the price. That's why if you're eating there alone and have a normal person metabolism, you order the Little Cheeseburger (or whatever) instead of the regular one.

What's the point really. I can sell you a tub of lard for cheap, isn't that a bargain? I find that the burger, while consumable whole, becomes a chore halfway through since it's pretty dry and bland. I am not convinced there's more meat in their one dense patty than in a double-double either. And nobody finishes the fries. I don't think I'v ever seen two people finish the fries.

Because they are vile, or at least they were the one time I went, after the last such thread that compared these two very different companies.

I've never had In-and-Out, but I agree with that the Five Guys fries are definitely sub-optimal. Every time I've gotten them they've been limp and greasy.

And clearly I'm not a guy who minds grease, but they're always just soaked in grease. And there are a million of them. I always eat like four and then focus on my burger (which is usually pretty fucking delicious).

They're very hit or miss. When they're fresh and cooked properly, I love their fries. But they do often end up limp and greasy. Well, they are always greasy, like everything from Five Guys, but they aren't always super limp.